In this workshop, Dr. Gustafson will walk you through some of the everyday challenges graduate students encounter in their academic journey. Her goal is to create a virtual space where you can reflect on the many factors shaping your experience. That means strategies for managing factors that are within your control and contextualizing those factors that may derail you.

Dr. Gustafson will offer practical tools that support productivity and enhance writing practices, strategies such as nurturing the student-advisor relationship, preparing for when things go sideways (because they will) and changing your relationship with publication rejection. She will invite you to shift your mindset when dealing with internal challenges, such as crises of confidence, creative anxiety (AKA writer’s block) and safeguarding your well-being. Because your time is valuable, the conversation will focus on issues participants consider most important.

Outline

• Factors Shaping the Graduate Experience

  • Student factors

  • Faculty/Advisor factors

  • Institutional factors

  • Societal factors

• Practical Tools for Productivity

  • Using AI mindfully

  • Changing your relationship with rejection

  • Enhancing writing practices

  • Leveraging resources

  • Growing social network

  • Nurturing student-advisor relationship

• Contextualizing Internal Challenges

  • Challenging the myth of balance

  • Addressing creative anxiety

  • Unmasking imposter syndrome

  • Managing crisis of confidence

  • Preparing for things going sideways

  • Safeguarding your wellbeing